By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The sustained efforts by the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, BIRS in collaboration with security operatives to ride the state of illegal revenue racketeers is yielding positive results.
Report from the service’s enforcement and legal department indicates that BIRS under Mr Emmanuel Agema, over 50 persons including the staff of the service have been arrested and arraigned for prosecution in 23 cases over illegal checkpoints, fake receipts respectively.
In a statement by the Media Assistant to the Chairman BIRS, Jacinta Bernard, the suspects were arrested at different locations over forgery, impersonation, criminal conspiracy, armed robbery among other allegations.
According to the statement, the Chairman is resolute to deal decisively with anyone who is involved in these acts of sabotage and criminality against the state to serve as a deterrent to others.
To ensure total eradication of the aforementioned dastardly acts, the Chairman of the service, has solicited the collaboration of relevant stakeholders including traditional leaders and other community groups to discourage their youths to desist from these nefarious activities within their localities.
The Tax Boss enjoined, members of the Benue State House of Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Bill forwarded to them which provides for stiffer penalties for tax evaders and illegal checkpoints operators.
